It's all static. I had my "thrill" with the operating bucket tram. The buckets are scratch, the tower is same, the large wheels are just plastic wagon wheels with grooves cut into them for the "cables". Still plenty to do with that area anyway.
Here's the "original" tram from the old Mogollon Railway. The buckets were made of brass, the cable was model ship rigging, and the drive was an old geared motor with "bull wheels" made from r/c airplane wheels with grooves cut into them

____________________It doesn't matter if you win or lose, its' how you rig the game.

I am enthralled with aerial trams. They made mining in some locations practicable. There are many still standing from California to Colorado, empty buckets swinging in the breeze heading nowhere.
Great historical reference in "Riding the High Wire, Aerial Mine Tramways in the West" by Robert A. Trennert ISBN 0-87081-631-4 University of Colorado 2001
It is a quick read and very informative about the basically two different systems used in the west. Love the model!

Howdy Steven, I am also enthralled(?) with aerial tramways, monorails, and track gauges of 24" or less! I built a static monorail on my old Mogollon Railway along with that operating bucket tram. These days, I'm more into actual operating the trains than worrying about how to make something work. Old age I guess. Who knows, that pesky monorail idea may resurface...Hmmm.
Here's the monorail on the MRy. Not finished but it did make for a couple of ore cars in the ops scheme.
And here's a close up of the "locomotive", similar to ones that were used by the Epsom Salts monorail in Nevada. I still have this loco...so maybe..........

____________________It doesn't matter if you win or lose, its' how you rig the game.

Hello Woodie. Sure looks like the move away from Dallas has done the boy good.

The aerial ropeway bullwheels looked very like what you have used, from what I remember as a lad; they used to fascinate me too. Often used in Britain to tip colliery waste spoil onto the 'bing', the conical pit head waste tips a short distance away from the shaft headgear. I'd stick with what you've done, instantly evocative to me.

I think I remember that on some systems the returning empties stayed inverted but on others the loaded & empty skips all hung the same way up. All long gone over here. Replaced by tattoo parlours, hairdressers and welfare cheque cashing outlets. Hey-Ho. I believe it's called "progress".

Michael "Replaced by tattoo parlours, hairdressers and welfare cheque cashing outlets. Hey-Ho. I believe it's called "progress". "
That really sums it up for the U.S. as well. It is sad commentary on the "progress" of our societies. Maybe walking uphill to school in the snow wasn't so bad after all.
WoodieEvery time I see pictures of the ol' Mogollon monorail I find myself studying the picture. Such a great model and scene. Really sets the mind to work.

These 3 photos show what's happening now. I wanted smaller structures (all still 1:35 scale) since I wanted a wider "road" and some space between the "town" and the aerial tram and tipple across the road. Of course, nothing is finished or even close to finished but I feel that I now have a representation of what a little settlement along the border would look like. I built the small mission style church many years ago, am re-doing it and it will sit on the edge of the mesa overlooking the place. It seems that little churches were built on higher ground most times...probably to be above the distractions below. The home between boulders is built right into the mesa and a couple of other small adobe structures are being situated along the street. The wooden structure shown in the last photo will be the town's saloon. Since I can't get away from Mogollon altogether, I am naming this business the same as previous affairs except this is the third version and will have a Spanish name-Cabra Hinchada #3...or Bloated Goat #3 (third version). There will be a lean-to on the side with some guys playing poker & drinking (like before) and parking for Model T's, mules and horses, and whatever else shows up.
Remember, I wrote that this would be "warts & all" and so it is. But at least my ideas are coming together...for now at least.

____________________It doesn't matter if you win or lose, its' how you rig the game.